Executive Meeting January 13, 2026

Executive Meeting

January 13, 2026

 

Present: Aaron Holland, Chris Murphy, Paul Cone, Wheeler Sutton, Dave Hudson, and Warren Duckworth (non-voting member)

Parliamentarian: Joy Martin

Secretary: Dianne Duckworth

Treasurer: Sarah Paisley

GuestSpeaker : Mike Ingham

Meeting called to order at 8:05 PM ET

• Special Guest: Mike Ingham to speak on Endowment Committee and Boat Grant goals

• Minutes: November and December minutes- Approved

• Secretary’s Report: Dianne Duckworth

1. 1. 1. New Membership for mid-January 2026 (200), mid-January 2025 (207), and mid-January 2024 (174)
      2. Cluspot
         1. Went from Invoices to Statement. This change to Statements allows Clubspot to send out reminders to members who have not paid their dues.
         2. Issue with the Statements- statements went out showing membership amounts that included past year non-payments. Will have all 2027 Statements zeroed out before they are emailed out on January 1st.
      3. Purchases needed
         1. Flags: would like to purchase 2 large flags ($82.00 each=$164.00) and 2 small flags ($32.25 each=$64.50) Total $228.50
         2. Thistle Plans: would like to order 5 sets for approximately $140-145
         3. Both purchases: approved

• Treasurer’s Report: Sarah Paisley

1. 1. Dec. 2025 P&L: Total Income- $1,275.00; Total Expenses-$5,848.79; Net Income ($4,573.79)
   2. December 2025  Balance Sheet: Total Assets $134,320.35
   3. October 2025 to December 2025 P&L: Total Income: $10,610.15; Total Expenses: $19,410.50; Net Income:  (-$8,800.35)

• First VP’s Report: Chris Murphy

1. 1. 1. MWW & MWE – seem to have everything under control.
         1. MWE request for $500 Vakaros funding.
      2. Nationals 2026 – no update. I’ll reach out this month.
      3. Nationals 2027 – exchanged emails with Craig Koschalk.  He is happy to do a verbal presentation on the NCYC bid at MWE. Additional from Craig:
         1. I may need to re-submit the request to NCYC Board with the 5 month lag time for a response from the TCA, so this may be rejected if another class discussions were more expeditious.
         2. I wanted to remind ExCom the dates are the second week of August- standard Friday 8/6  arrival to Saturday 8/14- out of the lot no later than 12 noon.
         3. I had to list myself as a regatta chair to get things pushed to the board. Presently, I am not able to nor do I foresee myself having the ability to take on this role- so I will need to find someone to take this responsibility from NCYC.
      4. Nationals future option? Outreach from Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. (Via Scott Vogel.)
      5. Interdistricts 2026-Will followup with RVPs this month.  Heard second hand that we still don’t have a venue for ACCs.  
      6. Districts 2026-Will follow up with RVPs this month to make sure they are following up with DGs. 

• Second VP’s Report: Paul Cone

• Website

• Have made some speed improvements but still working on more.

• Social plug-ins keep stalling on updates.

• Clubspot accounts vs. website accounts – members seem confused.

• Updated with new membership dues pricing.

1. 1. 1. Marketing
         1. Paul and Wheeler met with Nicole
         2. Compass raffle – tag Sailteck; U.S. shipping only; not Bagpipe specific; need not be present to win; drawing at MWE; post to Insta stories; links to MWW and MWE
         3. Updating Linktree
         4. Wheeler and Paul meeting with Bill Crawford about MWE and MWW
            1. Marketing photos for website (fun and fast)
            2. Instagram takeovers
      2. Bagpipe: Jan/Feb issue to press; next deadline April 1
      3. MWW
         1. Vakaros loaner plan fell apart, Otherwise planning was going well.
         2. Close to break even point- 23 boats
      4. Nationals
         1. Met with Eugene Fleet at their fleet holiday party. Bank account found.
         2. Bill Powell asks about boat insurance. 
         3. Met with Marty; working on updates for the website; hope to go live soon
         4. If we pay a photographer, we should have a high level of expectation. 
      5. Builder Committee
         1. Meeting postponed but happening this week.
         2. Will review builder survey results. 
         3. Need reminder email for survey sent.  

• Third VP’s Report: Wheeler Sutton

1. 1. Spoke with Lloyd Kitchin before Thanksgiving
      1. We talked about some ideas which he used locally to encourage growth and promotion (like crew races, juniors skippering boats, etc.)
      2. Talked about education focused initiatives – class sponsored round-tables, chalk talks, etc.
      3. Discussed lease-to-own programs
      4. Take some of these ideas at a national level and 
         1. apply them locally
         2. May interview some fleets which have done this and maybe write a Bagpipe article or two on it
         3. Highlight on our social media
   2. Social Media Initiative
      1. Not much going on because most regattas are done for the year
      2. Do we have Bill running the account for MWE/MWW? Or are we looking for class volunteers to take that on?
         1. Talking w/ Paul and Bill this Wednesday
      3. As we start to have more events in the spring, I’ll reach out to class contacts to see what events we can get coverage for
   3. Growth and promotion 
      1. G&P proposal- Should have something to share with the ExCom over email soon
      2. Looking for some inputs

• Chief Measurer: Dave Hudson

• Digital Race Management Committee: First meeting scheduled for 1/15/2026 at 1900 ET.

1. Received an inquiry regarding an inconsistency between the building plans and the measurement form

1. The issue is the published tolerances of the half-breadths of the hull and the “B” measurement on the official measurement form.
2. I will be contacting one or more former Chief Measurers to get some history. Received some measurement form data from Warren to further the research.

• Nationals in Eugene

1. 1. I Started looking at the various jigs and gauges 
   2. I will spend some time over the Winter recertifying them. 
2. Builder Committee
   1. I will attend meeting is 1/14/2026
   2. Will discuss recent emails from a class member about building boats.

• Past President’s Report: Warren Duckworth

1. 1. 1. Nationals Survey
         1. Sent out mid-December
         2. 18 responders at this time
         3. Noted Responses
            1. Sailing as 1 fleet more enjoyable ~56% less enjoyable ~42%
         4. One fleet notes making the event more enjoyable
            1. More flexible schedule
            2. More races
            3. Course Options
         5. 55% of respondents are over 60
         6. See other detail in Survey results in Google Drive
      2. Endowment Committee met 1/7/26
         1. Blair is working with Sarah Paisley to get Endowment funds under management
         2. Mike Ingham to present at this meeting
      3. Thistle Next Generation / Boat Grant Committee
         1. Contacted 3 people for Committee, 1 said yes, the others are pending
         2. I am working to speak w/ two others
         3. I hope to have at least the committed members meet before the next ExCom

• President Report: Aaron Holland

1. AC RVP still open
2. GMW -Doug Labor
   1. Business is still open and is available for repairs and parts
   2. Website is no longer operational

• Old Business

1. Bagpipe Financial Impact

1. Require opt in for print copies via email to Dianne
   1. Phased approach – keep settings until July
   2. Inform membership of change
   3. Incorporate DG’s for information distribution

1. Use of AI for meeting notes- Tabled for now to let Paul Cone time to research
2. KEMP watermark update- still researching

• New Business:

1. 1. 1. Correct dues for Bylaws – Family is $75 not $85
      2. Vote on Under 26 Dues Free and will be paid by the G&P- motioned, seconded and approved
      3. Vote on Trophy Eligibility List (Nationals) –2025 Eligible Trophies and Keepers motioned, seconded and approved

• Next ExCom Meeting: Tuesday, February 10th, 2026, at 8:00 PM (ET)

• Adjourn 10:18 PM ET